Series automatic machine for the printing industry



y 1940. P. NICKELSBERG 2.200.365

SERIES AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR THE PRINTING INDUSTRY 7 Filed June 23. 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fag/Z555 g y 1940. P. NICKELSBERG 2.200.365

SERIES AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR THE PRINTING INDUSTRY Filed June 25, 1938 4 SheetsSheet 2 7 1940- P. NICKELSBERG 2.200.365

SERIES AUTOIATIC "ACHINE FOR THE PRINTING INDUSTRY Filed June 23, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 14, 1940.

NIICKELSBERG SERIES AUTOMATIC uAcnmE'FoR THE PRINTING mnus'mY Filed Jqne 23, 1938 I l l 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 14, 1940 PATENT OFFICE seams AUTOMATIC momma FOR THE Pnm'rme INDUSTRY Paul Nickelsberg,

Ofi'enbach-on-the-Main, Germany Application June 23, 1938, Serial No. 215,501 In Germany June 24, 1937 14 Claims. (or. 95-73) The subject of the invention is a series automatic machine, 1. e., a machine for the printing industry which performs entirely automatically the setting in rows of single pictures in one or more colours in large groups (in series or by repetition) after the desired relative positions of the separate pictures have been fixed by adjustment of the machine.

The process, known and for long practised, of combining single pictures, which are either similar to or different from one another, in large groups is the reprint. Its weaknesses lie in the fact that a reprint is never the same as the original nor is it equal in quality; further, even a skilled printer is unable to produce uniformly a large number of reprints, nor can variations in adjusting be eliminated; they are due to theimpossibility of fitting exactly and uniformly to gether by hand a large group of single pictures, and to the variations in size to which the transfer medium (reprinting paper) is subject during the printing process at varying temperatures and humidity of the surrounding air and to working conditions. It is principally since the introduction of photo-mechanical reproduction processes, with their exacting demands for precision, that these weaknesses of the reprint have proved irritating and obstructive and this led to the.

, worked by hand. This is a tedious, monotonous and nerve-racking labour, all the more so from the fact that with most of the existing apparatus the work has to be done in the darkroom by red light. Hand operation also involves sources of error.

On the, other hand the idea which underlies the invention which is to be described, namely,

to make a machine perform the uniform work of setting in a row, instead of human hands, represents a technical advance. The new method of working is superior to reprinting, owing to improvement in quality, faithfulness to the original and uniformity of the separate pictures, and is superior-to all other known devices from the point of view of reliability, accurate adjustment and exactitude of the complete group, and also because the work is simple, cheap and rapid. As .the part of the machine in which the photographic copying process takes place can be made light-proof in a casing, all operations-on the machinepexcept the introduction of thesensitized material, can be conducted in the full light of the room.

The apparatus according to the invention'also provides a markedly economical and methodical advantage.

The series -automatic machine can be used to advantage where small single pictures (a. g., postage stamps, cigar bands, price tickets for cheap articles, such as reels of thread, bottles and packings for automatic machines) are to be 10 set in'a row in large groups. The so-called collective negatives or collective diapositives obtained by this means may be further dealt with by reprinting on the copying machine and in, the printing frame and be transferred to the ma.- l6 chine plate after transfer to a printing plate. In this manner it serves in large establishments as a complement to,and relief of the copying machine, and'in medium sized and smaller establishment's, which are unable to acquire or utilise a 20 copying machine, the lack of a copying machine is felt less; and in cases where-reprinting is to be retained, it can be put into operation. to advantage in order to produce with great perfection and economy the collective or intermediate originals. Facility in automatic series treatment has the result that, when required, collective originals can be produced without risk, while hitherto these were considered as necessary evils and were 30 only produced when they were absolutely necessary. i

In the drawings a form. of execution of the invention is shown, by way of example, in its most important parts.

Fig. I shows a front elevation and part section:

Fig. 11 shows the righthalf in side elevation and part section:

Fig. V is a view of the left side:

Figs. III, IV, VI and VII show separate parts. o.

All the drawings are simplified and diagrammatic.

As seen from the position of the operator and just in front of the observer is the working apparatus proper (Fig. I). It consists of the upper carriage l (Figs. I and II) which moves from i left to-right, and the lower carriage 2 which runs from front to rear. The upper carriage I is a. heavy box and has at its four corners four cylinders 3 with pistons 4, which are actuated by the suction of air. The box is open at the bottom I .and, in place of a bottom,- a frame 5 is arranged,

which is suspended on the four pistons 4 and can be moved up and down by them.. A strong, metal framed glass pane 6 can he slipped into the frame 5, In this manner a. glass floor of the box is formed. On to this the negative or diapositive which is to be treated in series is stuck, exactly centered. On the top of the box is situated the light cowl 1 with spot-light lamp. The lower carriage 2 is table-shaped and carries a glass plate 8 with fine suction nozzles which hold firm the sensitized material.

This device for lblding firm. the sensitized plates and films or other material is, as Fig. VII shows, suitably made up of two superimposed glass plates 9, 10. One of these has drilled holes of a small size which are closed by the fillings ll made of initially plastic and later hardening materials (amalgam, for instance). The fine nozzle openings are inserted in these fillings by drilling. The suction and adhesive effects of the nozzle openings can be further enhanced by means of suitable graving on the surface of the fillings. The air is sucked away through the nozzles by way of grooves l2 on the inside of one of the two plates. Sealing against the outside air is effected without any special measures by the adhering of the two plates which are pressed together by the atmospheric air pressure.

The carriage I and also the darriage 2 each run in V guides, the upper being driven by two threaded spindles I3, the lower by one threaded spindle l4.

Adjoining on the left is the drive mechanism of the upper carriage; below on the right, in the base frame of the apparatus, is the drive mechanism of the lower carriage. Both act in the same way in principle and both also contain many parts of similar construction.

In the upper drive mechanism the two threaded spindles 13 are driven jointly by a shaft l5- called the drum shaftthrough toothed wheels marked 85 and 86. This shaft has a two-way clutch IS with switch positions forward and return and between the two is the neutral position. The drive is operated from the driving shaft I! which is placed in parallel. The return run is effected at an accelerated speed. Control of the clutch I6 is effected by the clutch lever I8 with pivotal point at l9 which is under the influence of the spring bush or plunger 2| which is provided with a stop 20. The lower end of the clutch lever i8 is connected with the cam 16 (bell cam). One revolution of the drum shaft corresponds to 1 mm. travel of the carriage.

On the drum shaft 15 is keyed the disc 22 with two notches 23 (Figs. I and V). Into these can engage a claw-shaped catch 24 which is connected with a stop 25 and the respective rod systems 26, 21.

The driving shaft l1 drives the so-called camshaft 29 through a Worm drive 28. On this are several discs 3U--33 which are constructed as cams. On the camshaft 29 which is subdivided a clutch 34 is also arranged, which disconnects automatically at two definite points in its revolution. Parallel to the camshaft 29 is the similarly divided exposure shaft 35; this also has a clutch which disconnects automatically at one point of its revolution. It carries the exposure disc 31, the circumference of which conducts electrically as to one half, while the other half is non-conductive. Upon it the slidable, insulating sector 38 is arranged, which according to its position releases a larger or smaller portion of the conductive part of the circumference of the disc 31. On this slides the sliding contact 39 for the conduction of the electric current to the spot-light lamp of the light cowl I. By moving the sector 38 a longer or shorter exposure time is adjusted.

The sector 38 has at the back a boss 48 which acts through a rod system 4| on the clutch 34 of the camshaft 29.

Part of the mechanism is a vertically pivotable graduated bar 42 with millimetre graduations and toothing which is mounted in the frame of the machine in front of the carriage I and over which rides an inclined nose 43 (Fig. III) which is attached to the carriage. On the graduated bar 42 small striking blocks 44 may be set up. By means of these are indicated the positions in which each time a separate picture is to be copied. As soon as the nose 43 pushes against a block 44, the graduated bar 42 deviates in a swinging movement. This swing movement is transmitted to a rod system 45.

The arrangement of the graduated bar in one form of execution by way of example, is emphasized more clearly in Fig. 111. It rests on two arms 46 which are fixed to a common shaft 41. These pivot in an easily discernible manner round the shaft 41 when the nose 43 strikes the blocks 44, and in this manner transmit the swing movement to the rod system 45. The nose 43 is shown in the drawings with two engaging points 430. and 43b. The significance of the construction in this form is further referred to below. The nose 43 is drilled and is guided axially on a shaft 48 with a longitudinal key 4'9 along which it slides during the movement of the carriage I. This shaft 48 is connected with a rod system 50; one pull of this rod system causes, by means of the key 49, a lateral swing of the engaging points of the nose 43.

The graduated bar 42 need not lie in the immediate vicinity of the carriage with which it is associated. It may be placed at any other point. In this case a constructional part which is directly connected to the carriage cannot pass over it in the manner of the nose 43, but instead another arrangement is provided which serves to establish a relationship between the striking blocks 44 and the progressive movement of the carriage. This arrangement may suitably be of the kind that a screw nut, called a creeping nut, passes over the graduated bar; this nut is guided on a threaded spindle, called a creeping spindle. The creeping spindle is driven through toothed wheels from the drum shaft, so that the progression of the creeping nut corresponds exactly to the progression of the carriage. This form of execution has been selected, by way of example, in the lower driving mechanism. It is shown diagrammatically in Fig. VI and the creeping nut is 5|, the creeping spindle is 52, the graduated bar is marked 53, the striking blocks and the rod system pertaining thereto 54. The same references are shown in Fig. I. The arrangement may also be such that it is not the graduated bar 53 but the creeping nut 5| which executes the pivoting movement when it runs up on to the blocks 55.

In the lower driving mechanism the threaded spindle H, which engages by means of a nut in the lower carriage 2, is driven by a shaft 56 also called a drum shaft--through toothed wheels 51, 58. To this shaft belongs a two-way acting clutch 59, provided with end positions forward and retum" and, in between, the neutral position. The drum shaft 56 is in driving connection via toothed wheels with the lower driving shaft 60 and the latter via a worm drive 6'! with the lower camshaft 52, the former however only when the clutch 59 is let in, the latter only when a clutch 63, arranged on the shaft 82, is let in. II

This clutch G3 is controlled, in dependence on 59 is actuated by a two part lever 68 which can be. locked in its forward position by a stop 69.

Alocking disclIl with two notches II lying oppo site to one another, is situated on the drum shaft 55, into which notches a claw-shapedcatch I2 can engage; this is provided with a stop I3. On the camshaft 62 there are several cam discs I4, I5, I6; a further disc'II of this kind, which .may be subdivided into several separate discs, is driven from 62 over a reduction gear I8. The clutch 53, also disconnects at certain points of its revolution. The shaft 62 and other parts of this mechanism are in functional connection with certain parts of the upper driving mechanism,-

partly for securing the automatic run of the. whole, and partly'for the purposeof the capacity of disconnecting alternately the two mechanisms.

Part of the lower driving mechanism consists also in the above mentioned graduated bar 53 with millimetre scale and toothing, which lies next to thecreeping spindle 52. The creeping nut 5I which runs on this passes with a nose over the stop blocks 55 which are set on the graduated bar 53 and gives way, on contact with these, to the pressure of a pivoting movement which istransmitted by way of a rod system 54 to the stops of the lower driving mechanism.

' The method follows:

The machine is connected with a suction air plant. The upper and lower driving mechanism are each driven by 'an electric moton These motors startthe driving shafts I1 and SI] of the upper and lower driving mechanism.

The glass-plate 8 of the lower carriage 2 is spread with light sensitive material. A negative or diapositive of the picture which is to be serialized is stuck on to the glass plate Got the upper carriage I. The casing of the apparatus is closed so that the lightof the room can be switched on.

When work commences, the upper carriage I is in the initial position. The left half of the camshaft 29 starts to-rotate, after the shaft IT has been set in rotation.

(1) Theclutch 34 is engaged, and consequently the right portion of the shaft 29 rotates. The camdisc controls the suction air valves and the-suction air is introduced under the pistons 4 and the frame 5 with the negative is pressed downwards on to the light sensitive material.

(2) The second cam disc 3| lets in the clutch 36 of the exposure shaft 35, the right portion of which commences to rotate.

(3) The clutch 34 of the camshaft 29 disconnects for the first time, after a half rotationhas been completed. The discs 30 -33 remain stationary.

. (4) The exposure shaft meanwhile rotates and, by the contact 39, switches on the lamp of the light cowl I for a certain period. After completion of the exposure, the boss of the sector- 38 re-connects the clutch 34 of the camshaft 29 by way of the rod system 4|. The right half of the exposure shaft 35 thereupon completes its revolution and disconnects automatically by opening the clutch 38.

(5) The right half of the camshaft 29 with the discs 39-33 continues to rotate. The third camdisc 32' draws the catch 24 by way of the rod system 26 out of a notch 23' of the locking of operation of the machine is as locked. The catch 24 is held by the stop 25.

(6) At the same time the first cam disc 30 reverses the suction air valves so that the suction air acts from above on to the pistons 4. Thereby the frame 5 is again raised and the contact with the light sensitive material is released.

('7) The fourth carh disc 33 puts to forward, by way of-the spring plunger 21 .and the clutch lever I8, the clutch I5 of the drum shaft I5. The carriage I commences to travel. .The spring plunger 2| is held in this position by the stop 20.

(8) The right half of the camshaft 29 has now completed its second half revolution, i. e., has completed a full' revolution, and disconnects automatically for. the second time. Q

(9) The drum shaft I5 and thecarriage I are in motion. When the carriage approaches the place where the next copy is to be made, the nose oting movement round the shaft 41; after the nose 43 has passed over the stop 44 and slipped off it again, the graduated bar 42 swings back into its original position. This swinging movement is transmitted, by way of the rod system 45 and severallevers, to the rod system 21, which acts upon the stop 25 of the claw-shaped catch 24; it releases the stop at the moment at which disc- 22, so that the drum shaft ,I5 is no longer the graduated bar 42 swings back into its original position (Fig. V).

- (10) Thereby the catch 24 comes to lie under the pressure of a spring upon the circumference of the locking disc 22. This continues to rotate until one of the notches 23 arrives at the point of contact of the catch 24 and-the point of the catch engages in the notch 23. In this manner the locking disc 22 is blocked and with it the whole mechanism of the upper carriage. :The carriage I has arrived in the position where the second copy is to be made and is there locked.

(11) The movement of the catch 24, when its point engages, acts on the rod system 26. This releases, by means of a lever connection not shown in the drawings, the stop 20 of the spring,

plunger 2| connected to the clutch lever I8, which latterswings back and sets the clutch I6 of the drum shaft I5 to neutral (Fig. 1).

(,12) After the. upper carriage I has travelled in the manner described through one row and the last exposure in this row has been com pleted, the drum shaft I5 and the carriage I are set in motion again in the manner described clutch 63 (Fig. I). This camshaft 62 actuates the four cam discs 14, I5, I6, 'II in the following man-- I nor:

(a) The cam disc I5 draws the catch I2 of the lower driving mechanism, by means of a rod system 12a, outof a notch II in the lower looking disc 'IIi.

(b) The cam disc I4 puts the clutch 59 of the lower drum shaft 56in forward via the twopart lowerclutch lever 68 (Fig. II). In this manner the lower driving mechan sm is set in motion and pushes, via the mechanism, 51, 58 and the spindle I4, the lower slide 2 further to a distance of one line into the position in which the second line of copies is'to be produced. The completion of its movement is effected in the same manner as described for the upper driving mechanism.

(c) The cam disc 16 (bell cam) acts on the clutch lever I8 of the upper driving mechanism and moves the upper drum shaft clutch I6 from the forward position via neutral into the return position. Thus the upper carriage I reverses its movement.

((1) The camshaft I9, which is driven through a reduction gear I8, swings the nose 43 of the upper carriage I by way of a rod system 50 (Figs. I and III) by rotation of the shaft 48, away from the graduated bar 42, so that, upon the return of the carriage I, it should not strike on the stops 44.

According to the drawings (Fig. I), the cam disc 11 is not attached to the shaft 62 itself but to a small secondary shaft 19 placed in parallel, which is driven from the camshaft 62 by suitable gearing. v

(13) Therewith a half revolution of the lower camshaft 62 is completed and it declutches. The upper carriage I runs backwards to the initial position and passes slightly beyond it. Thereby a constructional part not shown which is connected with it strikes a second stop block 65. This re-connects. the clutch 63 of the lower camshaft 62 by way of a rod system 61, which former performs the second half revolution.

(14) Thereby the cam disc 16 releases the clutch lever I8, so that it slides back into the forward position under the influence of the spring plunger 2 I.

(15) The cam disc 11 now brings back the nose 43 of the upper carriage I to normal position by means of the rod system 50.

(16) This completes the second half revolution of the lower camshaft 62, which again decutches.

(17) The upper carriage I now runs forward again, reaches the position in which the first copy of the line is to be produced, and the second line is produced in series.

It is to be mentioned that the rod system of the lower claw-shaped catch 12, which should correspond to the rod system 26 of the upper driving 'mechanism, has no connection with the clutch 63 of the lower camshaft 62. It merely acts on the stop 69 of the clutch lever 68 (Fig. II) which actuates the clutch 59 of the lower drum shaft 56. On the other hand it possesses a security rod (Fig. I) which prevents, the clutch 34 from being let-in when the upper catch 24 engages, so long as the lower catch 12 has not engaged in a notch II of the lower locking disc I0; this security device 80 serves the purpose of preventing the shaft 29 from being set in motion before the shaft 56, i. e., the lower driving mechanism, has come to a standstill.

Thereupon the operator sets the lower mechanism at returnj by manipulating a lever and re-connects the lower motor. Thereby the lower carriage 2 runs into its front end position. There it again disconnects. The lighting of the room is now switched off, the apparatus is opened, the exposed material is taken out and replaced by fresh material and the original to be serialised is exchanged for a new one. Thereupon the machine is again closed, the lighting of the room can be switched on, the lower driving mechanism is set to forward and bothmotors are started again. Herewith commences the serialising of the second colour, if this arises, without however any further adjustment of the machine being required,

If it is desired to control the machine by hand for special purposes, the arrangements for interception which exist between the graduated bars 42, 53 or respectively their stops 44, 55 on the one hand, and the corresponding nose 43 or creeping nut 5| on the other hand, are eliminated by two ordinary handles, in such a way that the graduated bar 42 or the creeping nut 5| is swung away and detained. By the arrangement of these handies, of which, for instance, one, 8|, has its point of rotation. at 82 (Fig. V), it is made impossible for the stop 25 to be touched during this swing and thereby for the catch 24 which is held in the open position to engage in the locking disc 22. The same applies to the lower driving mechanism.

Automatic introduction or influence on any control movement, particularly any influence on or actuation of the locking disc and its catchas far as they could arise in the machine itselfare made'impossible by the fact that the two graduated bars and corresponding rod systems 45, 21 and 54 are made incapable of interception. In this way all the desired mechanical operations can be carried out by handwithout interference. For this purpose knobs and hand wheels are provided, among others hand wheels and part discs, at the top of each of the two drum shafts, which have the specific purpose of permitting precise adjustments by hand which may be made to very small measurement units (fractions of millimetres).

All processes are described in the above schematically and in a considerably simplified form. Moreover description and drawings describe only a simple form of execution of the series automatic machine. As in this connection the locking discs have two notches, positions can always be adjusted by units of /2 millimetre on each occasion, as one revolution of the drum shaft corresponds each time to 1 mm.

I claim:

1. In a step and repeat machine the combination, of a carriage for the original to be repeatedly reproduced, a second carriage for the sensitized material angularly movable with respect to the first carriage, separate drive shafts for said carriages, separate drum shafts each adapted to be actuated by one of said drive shafts and in potential driving connection with one of said carriages, cam shafts, each driven by one of said drive shafts, cams on said cam shafts disconnectable therefrom, a clutch between said cams and the cam shaft for connecting the cams to the cam shaft, means operable by each carriage for controlling the clutch between the cams and the cam shaft, a clutch on the drum shaft, and means under control of one of the cams for actuating the last named clutch,

2. In a step and repeat machine, the combination of a carriage for the original to be repeatedly reproduced, a second carriage for the sensitized material angularly movable with respect to the first carriage, angularly disposed screw spindles on which said carriages are respectively mounted, separate drive shafts for each of said carriages, cam shafts operable by said drive shafts respectively, drum shafts operable from said drive shafts for each of said carriages, a clutch on each drum shaft and means controlled from the cam shaft for the respective carriage for successively releasing the drum shaft to rotation, actuating the clutch and disconnecting the clutch and connecting elements between the operating mechanism of the carriage and the drum shaft releasing means for relocking the drum shaft against rotation upon disconnection of the clutch.

3. In a step and repeat machine, the combination of a carriage for the original to be repeatedly reproduced, another carriage for the sensitized material, screw spindles on which said carriages are supported for relative movement in angular direction, separate drive shafts for said carriages, drum shafts adapted to be operated from said drive shafts and connected with the spindles for the two carriages respectively, separate cam shafts respectively actuated from the drive shafts, clutches automatically operable after the cam shafts have made a predetermined movement for rendering the cam shaft inoperative, cams on said" cam shafts forcontrolling the movements of the pertaining carriages, additional shafts each in driving connection with the pertaining cam shaft, and means under control of one of the carriages for effecting the recon-t nection of the clutch on one of the cam shafts and means for effecting the reconnection of the clutch on the other cam shaft, said last named means being operable from the pertaining additional shaft.

4. In a step and repeat machine, the combination of a carriage for the original to be reproduced repeatedly, a second carriage for the sensitized material, means for imparting relative movement of said carriages, angularly to each other, said means comprising separate drive shafts for the carriages, cam shafts operable from said drive shafts respectively, drum shafts operable from said drive shafts. respectively and adapted for driving connection with the carriages, discs provided with notches on their peripheries on said drum shafts, holding pawls adapted to enter the notches of said discs, means under control of said cam shafts for moving said pawls out of said notches, means for locking the pawls in released position with respect to said discs, and means under control of said carriages for releasing said pawl locking means, said pawl releasing means and said lock releasing means being operable by the cam shafts and the carriages respectively in succession.

5. In a step and repeat machine, the combination with a carriage for the original to be repeatedly reproduced, a carriage for the sensitized material, and means for intermittently moving said carriages in angular relation to each other, said-last named means comprising separate drive shafts for the carriages, cam shafts operable from said drive shafts respectively, clutches on said cam shafts, separate drum shafts operable shafts for positively actuating the drum shafts and pertaining carriages from the drive shafts, a circumferentially notched disc on each of the drum shafts, pawls under spring control adapted to enter said notches for holding said drum shafts against operation, means under control of the cam shafts for moving said pawls to release position with respect to said notches, means connected with said pawls for actuating the clutches on said drum shafts respectively, whereby upon entry of a pawl into the pertaining notch of the disc on the drum shaft, the respective cam shaft is rendered inoperative, the pawl of the notched disc on the drum shaft for the second carriage being operatively connected with the clutch on the drum shaft for the first carriage in such manner that upon entry of the second mentioned pawl into a notch of the pertaining disc, the drum shaft for the second carriage is held against rotation while the clutch of the drum shaft for the first named carriage is free to become operative.

6. In a step and repeat machine, the combination of a carriage for the original to be repeatedly reproduced, a second carriage for the sensitized material, means for intermittently moving said carriages in angular relation to each other, said means comprising separate drive shafts, separate drum shafts associated with the respective carriages, means for actuating said drum shafts from said drive shafts, clutches on said drum shafts, cam shafts operable from said drive shafts, clutches on the cam shafts in the drive connection for said cam shafts from the drive shafts, cams connected with said cam shafts, control means extending between said cam and said drum shaft clutches, adjustable stops in the path of the first named carriage and operable thereby upon said carriage having traveled the entire length of its path, and means interposed between said stops and the clutch of the cam shaft for the second carriage for rendering the second carriage operative under control of its cam shaft to move over a selectively predetermined length of travel angularly to the direction of travel of said first named carriage.

7. In a step and repeatrnachine, the combination of a carriage for the original to be repeatedly reproduced, a second carriage for the sensitized material, separate drive shafts for said carriages, drum shafts interposed between said separate drive shafts and the respective carriages, cam shafts, one associated with each carriage and operable from the drive shafts, adjustable stops in the path of the first named carriage, means interposed between said stops and the cam shaft associated with the second carriage for rendering said cam shaft operable by the pertaining drive shaft upon a stop being struck by said first named carriage, and means under control of said cam shaft associated with the second carriage for reversing the rotation'of the drum shaft associated with the first carriage.

8. In a step and repeat machine, the combination of a carriage for the original to be repeatsitized material, and means for imparting'intermittent movements to said carriages angularly to each other, said means comprising separate drive shafts, drum shafts operable from said drive shafts and operatively connectable with said carriages respectively, adjustable stops in the path of the first named carriage, cam shafts operatively connected with the drive shafts respectively clutches onisaid drum shafts for rendermg said drum shafts operative and inoperative respectively, means interposed between said 'stops in the path of the first named carriage for controlling the'cam shaft associated with the'second carriage, and means under control of the cam shaft associated with said second carriage for actuating the clutch on the drum shaft of said second carriage, whereby upon encounter of said first named carriage with the stop, the movement of the second named carriageis initiated.

9. In a step and repeat machine, the combination of a carriage for the original to be repeatedly reproduced, a second carriage for the sensitized material and means for intermittently moving said carriages angularly to each other, said means comprising drive shafts, drum shafts connectable with the carriages respectively, means for actuating said drum shafts from said drive shafts, a frame, a stop bar movably supported by said frame, a plurality of stops ad- Justably settable on said stop bar, a notched disc on the drum shaft for the first named carriage, means on said carriage for moving said stop bar upon engagement with any of the stops set thereon, a holding pawl adapted for entry in the notches of the notched disc on the drum shaft, and means interposed between said stop bar and said holding pawl for releasing said holding pawl from a remote position with respect to the disc when said stop bar is actuated by engagement with said stop bar moving means on the carriage.

10. In a step and repeat machine the combination of a carriage for the original to be repeatedly reproduced, a second carriage for the sensitized material, and means forintermittently moving said carriages angularly relatively to each other, said means comprising a" separate drive shaft for each carriage, a separate drum shaft operable each from the pertaining drive shaft and connectable with the respective carriage, a clutch on each of said drum shafts, means-for moving said clutches to operative and inoperative positions, locking elements for said clutch moving means, a plurality of stops in the path of said carriages, supporting means for said stops, and means interposed between said stop supporting means and said locking elements for the clutch movingmeans for releasing said last named locking means upon movement of said stop supporting means produced by engagement of the carriage with any of said stops on said supporting means.

11. In a step and repeat machine, the combinationof a carriage for the original to be repeatedly reproduced, a carriage for the sensitized material and means for intermittently moving said carriages angularly to each other, said means comprising a separate drive shaft for each carriage, a cam shaft operably connected with each drive shaft, a drum shaft to be actuated by said drive shafts respectively, a plurality of stops adjustable with respect to each other, a stop supporting element, means on the first named carriage for engaging said stops and imparting movement to said stop supporting element, means under control of said stop supporting element for controlling the operation of the drum shaft of the pertaining carriage, the drum shaft being operable from the drive shaft in forward and reverse direction, and means controlled by the cam shaft operably connected with the other drive shaft for removing the stops on the stop supporting element from the path of the first-named carriage upon said carriage being actuated for reverse movement by the drum' shaft connected with said carriage.

12. In a step and repeat machine the combination of a carriage for the original to be repeated- 1y reproduced, a carriage for the sensitized material and means for intermittently moving said carriages angularly to each other, said means comprising a separate drive shaft for each carriage, cam shafts operably connected with said drive shafts respectively, a drum shaft connectable with the pertaining carriage,-means for imparting forward and reverse movement to each drum shaft and the pertaining carriage, a plurality of adjustable stops, a stop supporting element, means on the first named carriage for engaging said stops, means interposed between said stop supporting element and the pertaining drum shaft for controlling the drive of said drum shaft and the pertaining carriage, and means interposed between the other cam shaft and the stop engaging means on the carriage for preventing engagement of the stop engaging means on the carriage with the stops on the stop supporting element when said drum shaft is actuated for reverse movement of the carriage, said last named means for preventing engagement between the stop engaging means on the carriage and the stops being automatically operative upon reverse movement of said carriage and means at predetermined points in the path of said carriage for operatively connecting the other cam shaft with its drive shaft.

13. In a. step and repeatrmachine, the combination of a carriage for the original to be repeatedly reproduced, a second carriage for the sensitized material, and means for intermittently moving said carriages angularly to each other, said last named means comprising a separate drive shaft for each of said carriages, a drum shaft operatively connectable with each of the carriages respectively and actuated by each drive shaft respectively, a cam shaft operatively connected with the drive shaft of each carriage respectively, means under control of said carriages for operatively connecting the cam shaft with the drive shaft, means under control of said cam shaft for intermittently effecting operation of said drum shaft and movement of the respec tive carriage, and means under control of the cam shaft of the first named carriage for raising and lowering said first named carriage with respect to said second carriage, whereby under control of said control means on'the cam shaft, theoriginal of the first carriage is positioned in contact with the sensitized material of the second carriage.

14. In a step and repeat machine, the com- -bination of a carriage for the original -to be repeatedly reproduced, a second carriage for the sensitized material, separate drive shafts for said carriages, and means under control oi. said carriages for intermittently establishing and interrupting the operative connections between said drive shafts and the carriages, said means including a stop supporting element, two series of stops mounted on said supporting element, the stops of each series being in alinement with each other and being adjustable on said stop supporting element independent of the stops 0! engagement with the stops in either series of stops on the supporting element.

PAUL NICKELSBERG. 

